Mine



June 27, 1944. RONNlNG 2,352,226

MINE

Filed March 2, 1940 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l J 7%&

ATTORNEY6 Patented June27, 1944 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE MINE Adolph Ronning, Minneapolis, Minn. Application March 2, 1940, Serial No. 321,886

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mines such as used for protecting areas of the sea against enemy vessels and for destroying such vessels.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a mine of sectional construction including as separate units, a weight, a cable container, explosive container and detonating head, all of which may be assembled in any relation required to meet various conditions of water depth, amount of explosive force required, and type of detonating mechanism, best suited to the kind of vessels ordinarily traveling the mine field. Certain of said units may be dispensed with entirely if desired, and the possible permutation will thus be extensive.

Another and important object is to provide a mine which may be laid or placed in the water in any of a number of ways and without particular regard for the position at which the mine itself enters the water. The mine thus may be laid in usual manner from surface vessels, discharged from the torpedo tubes of both undersea and surface vessels, and dropped from the air either directly by low flying planes or aided by parachute from greater heights.

A further object is to provide a novel and effective mechanism for predetermining the depth at which the mine is finally located in the water and with novel means for anchoring the mine and automatically unreeling suflicient cable to hold the mine itself at the selected depth.

Still a further object is to provide detonators for mines of this kind which may be actuated by contact with a vessel, by the vibration of the screws of a nearby vessel, or by the magnetic lines of disturbance set up by metallic hulled craft. All of said detonators are interchangeable and usable in combination upon the explosive chamber and other units of the mine.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference ,being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a mine havin several units assembled in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating a series of mines (shown upright and on a smaller scale) as installed in varying conditions in the water.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section through a magnetic detonator mechanism and attached explosive unit of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a similar view through a contact detonator.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of the magnetically actuated contact needle assembly employed in the magnetic detonator of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through the lower portion of a mine showing the anchor or weighted bottom, the cable container and reel and mechanism for automatically setting the depth of the mine.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, perspective detail view showing a means for locking mine sections or units in assembled relation.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a detonator responsive to vibratory effects.

Fig. 9 is a similar view but showing a difierent type of vibration responsive detonator mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view through the operating mechanism of Fig.9.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a mine arranged on a carriage for firing through a torpedo tube.

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to the drawings, my improved mine is seen to comprise as basic units orsections a contact detonator or head A, a magnetically actuated detonator mechanism B, two forms of detonators C and D responsive to vibration, a receptacle or container E for the explosive, a cable carrier and depth control device F and a weight or anchor G. All of these units are of elongated rounded or cylindrical form and are provided at opposite ends with threaded sockets I2 and threaded extensions or studs l3 so that they may be screwed together in any desired order, number, and combination as will be hereinafter detailed. The units with the exception of the weight or anchor unit G are buoyant.

The construction of units F and G will be first described. The weight G is simply a heavy mass of metal shaped to correspond with that of the mine as a whole and having the threaded stud I3 at the center of its intended upper unit. The unit F has a cylindrical upper portion l4 closed at the upper end by a threaded cap I5 bearing the stud l3. Openings l6 into hollow portions of this unit may be plugged if desired for the purposes of buoyancy. A cable reel I1 i journaled by a. pin 18 on the cap l5 to turn freely in the hollow chamber of the unit, and a flexible cable I! is wound on the reel. The outer end of the cable is pulled oil the end of the reel, which is rounded at 20 for this purpose, and guided by downwardly tapering walls 2| passes downwardly is then secured to a plug member 23 which is adapted to enteran upwardly opening axially extended bore or socket 24 in the Weight G wherein it is retained by engagement of the latch 25. Said latch is extended radially through the side wall of the weight and is tapered at its inner end to engage an angular peripheral groove 26 in the plug. The plug is so shaped that it may be forced past the latch and willbe retained thereby against disconnection from the weight. A spring 21 normally urges the latch into locking engagement and the latch may be,manua1ly withdrawn to free-the cable plug by unscrewing th retaining plug 28.

Unlike the connection between other units, the

cable carrier F has an enlarged socket l2a without threaded engagement with the stud 13 of the weight. Instead a latch pin 29 is slidably and radially mounted through the lower end of the unit F and at its inner end engages a circumferential groove 30 in said stud. The outer end of this latch pin 29 carries a diaphragm 3i retained in an outer portion of the enlarged recess 32 around the pin by a cylindrical screwed sleeve 33. A spring 34 normally tends to urgethe pin outwardly but the requisite arching of the diaphragm 3! is prevented by the filling of the sleeve 33 with a soluble seal or compound 35. The nature of this compound is such, however, that after immersion in the water it will dissolve or otherwise become inoperative, whereupon the latch pin 29 will be shifted radially outward to clear the groove 38 and thus free the unit F from the weight G.

I provide in unit F an automatic cable brake or depth regulating device which will now be 'described. A large diametrical passageway or recess 36 is provided in the-lower portion of the unit and near a central point an anvil or fixed block 31 is supported in position to be traversed by the cable 19 as it runs downwardly from its 'reel. A brake member or hammer 38 is pivoted at 39 in the passageway 36 and has loosely connected thereto a setting pin 40 which extends slidably through spaced apertured brackets 4|. An expansion spring 42 on the setting pin bears between one bracket and the brake member to normally and forcefully urge the brake member against the cable l9, forcing the same against the anvil 31. The cable may thus be locked against movement such as to unreel from the reel H.

A trigger bar 43 is slidably mounted and supported at right angles with respect to the setting pin 40 and has a projection 44 which engages the upper shoulder of a groove 45 in the pin as the same is pulled out to draw the brake member 38 -away from the cable. The water in which the mine is immersed enters the passageway 36 of course and flowing into the recess 46 in which the trigger bar is mounted engages a diaphragm 41 retained in the recess by the screw 48, and the pressure flexes the diaphragm as shown to hold the trigger bar in engagement with the setting pin. A spring 49 bears against the latch bar to yieldably resist the movement away from the set position and the tension of this spring may be adjusted by the nut 50.

The trigger bar is initially restrained against movement from its set position by engagement of a catch 5| with'a lug 52 on the bar. This catch 5| has a head plate 53 loosely mounted in a radial opening in the side of the unit and is normally urged outwardly by a spring as shown to clear the lug 52. However, a compound filling through an axial passageway 22. The cable end 54 in the outer end of the opening resists this movement of the pin.

I In operation as the mine is dropped into the sea the weight G causes it to sink until it strikes bottom. The action of the water then dissolves or loosens the compound fillings 35 and 54 and the latch pin 29 moves outward to free the unit F (and other mine units or the mine body connected thereto) from the weight while at the same time the catch 5| moves outward to free the trigger bar 43. The relatively great water pressure at the sea bottom or near thereto, however, retains the diaphragm 41 in flexed position and holds the trigger bar in its set condition. The buoyancy of the mine now causes it to ascend in the water away from the weight G which remains on the bottom, and the cable I9 is paid out from the reel I! as this takes place. mine ascends, however, the water pressure grows less until it is finally insufllcient to resist the normal urge of the trigger bar 43 to move upwardly and release the setting pin 40. As this occurs the brake member 38 snaps against the block 3'! locking the cable against further movement and the mine becomes anchored. The depth at which the mine is anchored, or conversely the amount it ascends from the weight G, may be predetermined by adjustment of the spring 49 in accordance with known values of water pressure at different depths below the surface. The compound fillings or seals 35 and 54 act as safety means to hold the mine in assembly until it has been laid, and has settled to the bottom.

Arranged next above the units thus far detailed will ordinarily be one or more of the explosive carrying units E which are hollow as shown and filled with the explosive mixture or powder 55. These units may be of any size and used in any number according to the explosive force desired in each case.

The mine may be surmounted by a war head or contact detonator such as indicated at A and which itself comprises an explosive fitted hollow \member 56 having arranged about its upwardly tapered end a series of contact detonator horns- 51 of any conventional form. The member 55 may, as shown in the'dotted lines in Fig. 4, be extended to carry sufficient explosive within itself and thus dispense with use of the units E where relatively light duty is only required. Or of course any number of explosive filled units may be used.

The detonator horns 51 may be enclosed by caps 58 which protect against accidental discharge until the mine is ready for laying and in connection with the laying of the mines through torpedo tubes, as will be more particularly described, it will be noted that these caps 58 extend beyond the lines (shown at 59 invFig. 4) of the cylindrical outer surface of the mine so that the mine cannot be inserted in the tube without first removing these caps.

The detonator unit B, shown in Fig. 3, is responsive to variations in magnetic fields in its vicinity and this unit comprises a cylindrical housing 50 having threaded end caps GI and '52 which bear the socket I 2 and stud 13 for connection to other parts of the mine. In an intermediate position a partition wall 63 is provided and mounted therein'is an elongated plug 54 which is insulated from metallic parts by the bushing 65. At its lower end 65 the plug slidably.

enters an electrical detonating fuse 61 which is AS the a socket in the fuse when slidably inserted thereinto, and the entire unit B may thus be removed without disturbing the fuse. The fuse of course is of a type which when electrically energized, as by means of a battery 69 carried in the unit B, will set off the explosive charge of the mine.

The upper end of the plug 94 where it extends through partition wall 63 serves as one bearing for the outer needle 10 and the upper bearing 1I therefor is secured centrally to an insulated plate 12 mounted at the upper end of the unit. The inner needle 13 is fitted in bearings 14 carried in the center yoke 15 of the outer needle (see Fig. and this assembly thus acts as a magnetic dip needle. As the magnetic field about the mine is disturbed by the passage of a metal hulled ship in the vicinity, the needle 13 swings from its usual position as shown in dotted lines and at one end thus comes in contact with a collector ring 16 secured to upper side of the wall 63 and insulated therefrom as designated at 11. This ring is connected to the battery 69, the other side of which is "grounded to the unit housing as shown at 18, and this contact of the needle with the ring obviously serves to complete the battery circuit to the fuse 61 and set off the mine.

The housing wall has a recess 19 therein which communicates with the exterior and a hollow sleeve or collar 80 threaded into this recess retains a diaphragm 8| in place. This diaphragm carries inwardly a contact point 82 insulated from. all metallic parts and normally spaced outwardly from a fixed contact 83 carried by the wall 63 and insulated as shown at 84 therefrom. The contacts 82 and 83 are as shown connected in series between the battery 69 and collector ring 16 so that the circuit is normally open. The outer end of the recess 19 is initially filled with a compound seal 85 but as the mine stands in the water sometimes this seal is dissolved and the water pressure finally reaches the diaphragm BI and flexes the same inward. This action closes the contacts 82 and 83 and completes the circuit setting the mine in condition for operation. The safety seal is of value therefor in preventing accidental closing of the detonating circuits before the mine is laid and assumes its deslredpositions in the sea.

The detonator units C and D are alike in that both are responsive to vibratory effects in their vicinity but differ in the type of operating mechanism employed.

The .unit C will be first described, and com.- prises as shown in Fig. 8 a housing 86 having end caps 81-98 provided with the socket I2 and stud I3 for assembly in the mine. A partition wall 89 in this housing has an axially extended bore in which a plug 90 is mounted and insulated by a bushing 9I, the lower end of the plug entering and. contacting the fuse 61 in the adjacent explosive unit E. In fact the units B and C may thus be interchanged at will. A safety sealed series switch or contact designated generally at 92 is provided for initially retaining the circuit from battery 93 to the fuse open and this switch has the compound seal 94 for the purpose hereinbefore described.

A large diaphragm 95 is mounted over the upper end of the housing 86 and insulated electrically therefrom 'by the mounting ring 96. This diaphragm carries at a center lower position a contact finger 91 which normally stands at a very slight spacing from the adjacent upper end 98 of the plug 90. The diaphragm 95 is electrlcally connected, through safety switch 92, to the battery 93 in the manner shown, and it will be evident that any vibratory movement of the diaphragm wil1 result in a closing of the contact finger 91 against the plug to thus close the circuit to the fuse 61, and set off the explosive.

A passage 99 leads from the chamber in the upper part of the housing 86 out through one side thereof and a smaller diaphragm I00 is retained in the outer end of the passage by. a threaded collar IOI being thus exposed to the water.

The operation is such that the vibration set up in the water by th screws of a nearby vessel will impinge on the diaphragm I00 and will be transmitted through air, liquid or fluid filling of the passage 99 and upper chamber of the unit, to the diaphragm which, being very sensitive. will be vibrated sufficiently to close the circuit and set off the mine.

The unit D, while responsive to vibratory effects, employs mechanical rather than electrical firing means as does unit C above described. Th firing fuse I02 in the adjacent explosive unit E is thus of the contact or percussion type but it fits nevertheless into the same size opening as electric fuse 61 and is interchangeable therewith. The housing I03 has the end caps I04 and I05 with the mounting socket I2 and stud I3 and a clock work or spring actuated mechanism I05 is mounted in the housing. This mechanism includes a spring I01 which may be wound by key I08 and which actuates a main gear I09 causing the same to turn in the direction indicated by the arrow. This gear I09 carries a release IIO which may contact a trigger II I pivoted at I I2 and nor mally engaging a hammer or striker II3. spring II4 urges this hammer toward the firing fuse I02 but the hammer may be cooked backand held by the trigger III until released 'by the release H0. The pinion II5 meshes with gear I09 and carries an arm II6 which normally engages the end of the bell crank member II1 pivoted at 9 to prevent the gears from turning and hold the release IIO some distance away from the trigger.

A large diaphragm II9 secured to the upper end of the housing I03 carries a finger I20 which may engage the bell crank member II! and swing the end thereof clear of the arm IIS and so cause the detonation of the time. Passageways I2I in the end cap I 04 communicate with the.diaphragm I I 9 and at their outer ends communicate with smaller diaphragms I22 which are retained in place by threaded collars I23. The action is of course such that vibrations impinging the diaphragms I22 will be transmitted to the large diaphragm H9 and will cause the same to free the bell crank member H1 and allow the clock work mechanism to release the hammer I I2 and allow the same to set off the charge.

This action, however, cannot occur until a safety seal or plug I24 is dissolved by the water. The water pressure then strikes a small diaphragm I25 mounted by a collar I26 in a side recess I21 of the housing and, flexing the same inwardly, moves the release rod I28 so that the projection I29 thereof clears the bell crank member. Accidental discharge is thus prevented.

It may be noted that the various detonator housings may be made waterproof both to add buoyancy to the mine and to protect the instrument from the water. Of course the spaces between various lnner and outer dlaphragms of the units C and D may be filled with any desired fluid best suited and conditioned for transmitting the vibrations.

In setting up the mine or assembling the units thereof, washers I30 of metallic material are inserted between adjacent units. To then prevent the units from possibly coming apart I may provide each unit in opposite ends with small angular recesses I3l as shown in Figs. '1 and 8. The washers I30 are then distortedandforced out into these recesses by a suitable tool such as a crewdriver and as shown at I32, thus preventing adjacent units from relative turning or unscrewing movements.

As heretofore stated, the mines may be discharged from the torpedo tube of warships and as shown in Fig. 11 the assembled mine is loaded in a carriage I33 which may be wheeled and guided to insert the mine in the tube mouth I.

This carriage may have a clamp I35 to hold the mine while other sections are screwed into place by manipulation with a' clamp wrench I38 as shown.,

The mine may oi. course be laid in any other way including the dropping from air craft, and the position at which the mine enters the sea is of no importance. Regardless of the position the mine will settle with the weighted end down and will then adjust itself to the desired and predetermined depth below the surface.

external diameter of the mine body to contact the torpedo tube and prevent entrance of the mine 'thereinto until the cap'members are removed.

f 2. An explosive'device for launching through a tubular launching means, comprising a body of cylindrical shape to fit said tubular launching means, detonating means located on the body in such position as to clear the launching means as the body passes therethrough, and means mountable over said detonating means for protecting the same prior to launching, and said last The possible combination in which the various units may be assembled in the completed mine are many, as will be evident, and the mine may thus be set up on the Job to meet any conditions of water depth or desired explosive force at will. Several mines are shown in their laid or set condition in Fig. 2. I

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An explosive mine adapted to be launched through a torpedo tube, comprising a mine body of cylindrical form to fit the tube, contact detonating means on the body and so located that they fall within the external diameter or the cylindrical body to clear the torpedo tube as the mine is launched therethrough, and cap mem-' bers removably mounted over-the said detonating means to protect the same, the said cap members when in place projecting beyond the mentioned means when in place being adapted to project from the body in such manner that they will contact the launching means and prevent launching of the body.

Y 3. The combination with an explosive filled body adapted 'for discharge through a tubular member, of a detonating means on the body and so located thereon as to clear said tubular member as the body passes therethrough, and protecting means removably mounted over said detonating means to protect the same until the body is to be discharged, said. last mentioned means when in place being so located as to contact the tubular member and prevent discharge of the body therethrough to thereby prevent accidental discharge of the body with said detonating means protected.

V 4.. The combination with a cylindrical explosive mine adapted to be launched through a launching tube of a detonator so located .on the mine as to clear the tube as the mine is launched therethrough, and a protecting means removably mountable on the ,mine to protect the detonator prior to launching the mine, said protecting means when in place being adapted to contact the tube to prevent launching of the mine until the detonator is exposed by removal of the protecting means.

5. The combination with a cylindrical explosive mine adapted to be launched through a launching tube of a detonator so located on the mine 

